Reviews

Review: Northwest Treasures

July 24, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Northwest Treasures is a company that is new to me. Their focus is on geology with an emphasis on seeing the Christian faith (or the bible) in the study of geology, they have a number of courses that they do. Over the past while we’ve been able to watch their Dinosaurs and the Bible series and my son has been captivated. We also had a chance to watch their Mystery of Geology Video.

Taking the Mystery Out of Geology Video

An approximately 20 minute video of slides with terms interspersed with full colour images, overlaid with audio teaching. We have a three month access to this online video available on Vimeo.

“I learned about that while I was learning about Ancient Greece” Pause video… lad explains the rock cycle to me. I loved how he was able to connect the pieces. Having my lad explain things is wonderful.

A number of geologically important terms were defined. Science, History, Philosophy, Uniformitarianism, Evolution, Creationism, Bible, Geology, Rock Cycle, Rock Types, Tectonics and Orogeny, Geological Time Scale and Fossilization.

Laughter from the lad at times. I found speaker stressed defining what is or is not science. He defined terms well and used good definitions to show flaws in how secular geologists think.

Son’s reaction: “It was okay”, which from the lad is praise indeed. He is often quick to point out what he doesn’t like about something and he didn’t point anything out to me.

Dinosaurs and the Bible

We spent the bulk of our time with Dinosaurs and the bible. Six lessons, which we get to use for six months, giving us ample opportunity to listen to them again.

Each video comes with a worksheet. It took me a fair while to figure out where the worksheets were located. When you have a list of the videos you can click on them to pull up a description of what the video is about, on the description will be a link to the video worksheet, this downloads as a PDF from Dropbox. You only have to download the answer sheet once.

The Lessons are as follows:

How we got our Modern view of Dinosaurs – running time 18.26
The Classification of Dinosaurs – running time 18.24
Dinosaurs and the Bible, the Great Dinosaur Rush – running time 16.55
The Extinction of Dinosaurs – running time 16.23
Dinosaurs and the Ice Age – running time 17.51
Fossils, Age and Soft Tissue – running time 21.38

How did we use it?

We’ve had access for the past four weeks, and today my son, when I mentioned that the review was due today, said “MOM! We have to make sure we finish watching all the videos!” He knows I’m apt to forget about finishing a review once it is off my radar, this one he wanted to make sure he finished. A good thing that eh?

Previous to today, our normal routine was on Wednesday at supper I’d put a video in and we’d discuss it over our meal. Gave us a time to chat while dad’s away at work. I’d simply cast it to the TV and we’d have our bowl of chili or a sandwich and watch. I’d have the PDF open so I could stop it and ask questions as we went through the lesson.

We had the option to print off the PDF files (one for each lesson) but chose to just keep the file open and talk through the answers and take any rabbit trails as we went along. Each lesson averaged 10 questions.

I did the same thing with the final exam. Just asked questions, the lad came over a couple of times to read the multiple choice answers when he didn’t’ know the answer off the top of his head.

We did take a couple of rabbit trails. The lad was curious about Lyell, so we did a bit more research on him. We talked about who Darwin was as well. Isn’t it nice when a program is so enjoyed by a lad that he actually WANTS to learn more? It’s a good thing that!

The course is laid out with a series of slides with Patrick Nurre teaching in the background. The lessons are laid out on Vimeo and I’ve learned to let them buffer before starting to play. They are geared for grades 5 and up, and play time averages about 20 minutes. Picture quality is good and audio is excellent as long as I let it buffer.

My Thoughts:

Well done, learned a lot. I loved having the PDF’s for questions/answers. One thing I wished for was that occasionally he would put a cut out of himself talking in the corner of the video, adding a more personal touch. I would also love to see a PDF that has blanks in it so as you go through the video you can write things down. Or even a PDF listing the main points so notes could easily be taken. There is SO MUCH information contained in these videos that it’s hard to remember it all.

I found it fascinating to learn that dinosaurs have been pictured on rocks and such. This was new information to me. Kinda speaks to dinosaurs being around with people eh?

My Son’s Thoughts:

“I like it, I enjoyed it. I liked everything about it. The lesson on the ice age really interesting.”

In addition to the online classes, Northwest Treasures also offers physical courses such as the high school level Northwest Treasures Curriculum Project or for younger students the Geology for “Little Eyes” series.

Dinosaurs and the Bible – six lessons
Taking the Mystery out of Geology – 20 minute Video
Northwest Treasures
ages 5+
Geology, Online, Science, History, Geology Class
Video series on Vimeo (on demand)
Purchasing information can be found here.

If you have a membership to SchoolhouseTeachers.com Patrick Nurre has a geology course on there called Rocks and Minerals. It is just as interesting as the Dinosaurs course. Check out the course, see if you like it, and then sign up for courses from Northwest Treasures. 🙂

75 members of the crew reviewed various programs from Northwest Treasures:

Dinosaurs of the Bible
Volcanoes for Little Eyes
Geology and Apologetics
Fossils, Dinosaurs and Cave Men
Rocks and Minerals for Little Eyes

These programs are just a sampling of the variety of materials offered by Patrick Nurre and the Group at Northwest Treasures. I urge you to check out their kits such as their Fossil Identification Kit (which intrigue me) as well as their other offerings. Click here or on the image below.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GeologybyNorthwestTreasures/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/northwesttreasu/boards/

Survivor Diaries: Lost!

July 21, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Do you recall I reviewed Survivor Diaries: Overboard last year I think? How I thought it was an interesting, well-written book? Today I have a chance to review another in the series called Lost! Isn’t that great? These books are not only intriguing but they offer good advice to individuals caught in these situations. Good stuff eh? In my experience these are books 7-10 year old devour and then ask for more! 🙂

What would you do if you were lost? That’s the question behind this story. Carter and Emma are consumed with curiousity about the monkey witch legend. Could licking the statue make them strong? and then…monkeys happened….

From there we are walked through a story with black and white images scattered throughout the book, following the adventures of Carter and Emma as they deal with being lost in a jungle. We get to learn important survivor skills. Keeping a calm head, thinking through what you need to do and so forth. There is even a section at the close of the book giving great advice about what to do when lost in the jungle and some links to follow.

My Thoughts:

I found it an intriguing take on being lost. I expected the standard stay where you are, find a way to make yourself visible type of thing. But that’s not what it was! It was finding a way to help yourself survive in a hostile environment. Realizing the size is meaningless when it comes to what can kill you. Figuring out how to keep moving forward without panicking and so forth. It’s good to be surprised eh? 🙂 It’s all about finding a way to survive, and the key is to remain calm and be smart about what you are doing. Good book, recommend it.

Survivor Diaries: Lost!
Terry Lynn Johnson
Jani Orban (illustrator)
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books
softcover, ages 7-10,
Series: Survivor Diaries
Elementary, Mystery, Adventure, Survivor

Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

Every Job a Parable

July 19, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Pastor Van Sloten asks us this important question “Do you know how much your work matters to God?” In the book Every Job a Parable, he works to show us how every job can showcase who God is. He shows us how every type of job matters to God and helps us to fulfillment in our careers regardless of what they are.

Who is the Author and What is his purpose?

John Van Sloten pastors a church in Calgary, Alberta, who has also written The Day Metallica Came to Church. He teaches preaching at Ambrose Seminary. John tells that through the pages of this book “you’ll encounter God’s revelation through various vocational parables, as shared with me by the people I interviewed. You’ll learn how a firefighter’s passion is like God’s, how the nature of automotive restoration uniquely reflects the renewing mind of God, how the cultural product of the culinary arts reveals something of the hospitable heart of God, and how a geophysicist’s search for subterranean truth informs humanity’s collective search for God’s truth.”

In Every Job A Parable, Pastor Van Sloten uses one through five jobs as examples in his illustrations, showing us how Janitorial jobs show us God at work keeping creation clean, how Wal-Mart greeters showcase the hospitality we are to show to each other, and how doctors help us see how God brings all that he has into saving us. We are shown jobs from across the spectrum: medical personnel, lawyers, flyer delivery people, hairstylists, parents, and more. Every job that a person can do showcased the image of God in some way.

Pastor Van Sloten does not spend the same amount of time with each position that he discusses, some are mentioned only in passing, others more in-depth. There doesn’t seem to be any rhythm to those he spends more time with, again, his time crosses spectrums of “job importance”. Interwoven throughout the stories of people and their jobs he intersperses scripture passages.

What do you get?

Four sections, divided up as follows.

What does it mean to Image God?

all work matters
imaging God with your whole being
learning into God’s signature moves

What is a Parable, and how is work a parable?

noticing God’s unnoticed presence
the iconic nature of vocational parables

What Does God reveal to about himself through our work?

God made all things
Sin distorts all things
God is saving all things
God will make all things new

How can we more effectively and consistently image God Through our work?

Stepping into the Story that is your job
employing the gift of gratitude
slowing down, opening your eyes and seeing
becoming a vocational mystic
trusting that God will use your work

Each chapter opens with a couple of quotes and ends with a series of discussion questions, along with distinctive section headers.

My thoughts:

I found this to be an interesting book to read, I didn’t always make the same connections in positions as the pastor did, but I found it fascinating how he pointed out what he did for each position and how it showed us God all the more. This read is great to help people look deeper into their own jobs. To find the God-given responsibilities and gifts from each. God finds a way to be showcased regardless of what job we hold. We should take pride in the fact that we are part of that, finding ways to be the people he has called us to be in the jobs given to us. Pastor Van Sloten’s goal is to help us see how we can better use our jobs to show God to the world around us. Whether it’s in providing good service, helping people make connections, encouraging people to be the best they can be, how can you use the job that you are in to help people see Christ? How can you live out Christ to the world?

Every Job a Parable: What Walmart greeters, nurses & astronauts tell us about God
John Van Sloten
NavPress
220 pages, softcover,
Christian living, Christianity,
Reviewed for Nuts about Books.

Review: Code for Teens

July 16, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Coding is such an important part of the world today. My 13 year old son has a keen interest in learning to code. Last year he took an engineering course, and through that learned how vital knowing how to use electronics and how to code really is in today’s world. He’s been learning some coding with Minecraft but is just itching to take his knowledge farther, enter in Code for Teens: The Awesome Beginner’s Guide to Programming (Volume 1). This program is brought to us by Moritz team at Code for Teens.

What do you get?

Originally we were supposed to get a physical book to use, but since we live in Canada we ended up with a PDF. This makes it very travelable as we can put it on any device and read as we go.

This File is 116 pages, with 10 chapters, along with a glossary, answer key, a section for parents, and introduction. Each chapter includes a quiz, key concepts list, drills and a review of the chapter preceeding it.

In case you are curious, you can see a sample chapter here.

Chapters include the following:
1: Hello World!
2: Time to Operate
3: Comment on the String Section:
4: Have Some Functions
5: Shall I Compare?
6: Logically Operational
7: Projects Galore
8; Hip Hip Array!
9: Loop a Round
10: Make a Hangman Game

I loved how in the introduction the authors take the time to talk about how important learning to code is. Software engineering (computer coding) is “one of the fastest growing industries in the world. ….Perhaps it
should be mentioned that programmers are in extremely high demand, and this leads to excellent pay, comfortable work environments, flexible hours, greater job satisfaction, long-term career security,” etc. But really…the answer is simple: Superpowers.

And so we learn how coding well is a superpower that leads to better jobs in the future. Learning JavaScript is important because “it is the most common programming language of them all and is used in over 90% of all websites! JavaScript makes websites move and respond to what a user touches and types. And it’s also a useful tool for games and mobile apps! With more and more businesses going online and people browsing on their phones, JavaScript is becoming more valuable every year.” With these words my lad felt even more inspired!

How did we use it?

Code for Teens is designed to be a self-paced course. The alternating reading and text gives students an immediate chance to practice what they are learning. The repetition helps them with areas they struggle in, and the practicum helps them retain that knowledge well. The lad loved to hear that there would be more than one way to answer any problem given, as it gave him the confidence to experiment.

The lad worked through one lesson per week. Opening up the PDF file in a browser tab, working through the learning portion, then doing the quizzes and drills on a separate days. We aren’t in a rush to get through the book as it’s summer and other learning comes first.. like learning how to paint, spackle, cut down trees, ministry work (like VBS, foodbank), visiting friends etc. The lad doesn’t fight sitting down to do work through his lessons three days per week. He has repeatedly told me how much he enjoys going through this book and all the things he likes about it.

It’s good you know?

Our Thoughts:

My son predominately used this on his own. I only helped when he was getting set up, and for grading his tests. Other than initially struggling with the NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION over every page, this JavaScript computer training program is working really well for the lad.

Since he was the one using it, I will let him make his own comments

Likes:

I like how he walks through everything and repeats it several times. That way if I didn’t understand it the first time, the next time I will and everything else just becomes review so I understand it better and remember.

I like the DIY bits where you need to figure out your own how to do something using what you’ve been taught.

Wants:

Challenges to take the code you have been taught and figure out how to make it shorter or easier to write. I did this! See this example.

Let number = 0;
number ++;
Number %3;
Up arrow, enter

Rather than writing it out like 4 % 3; enter. 5 % 3; enter etc.

Dislikes:

The parent section was really boring.

His recommendation:

If you want to learn JavaScript, buy this book, as it has worked really well for me so far.

Code For Teens: The Awesome Beginner’s Guide to Programming (Volume 1)
Code for Teens.
Coding, JavaScript, teens,
Code For Teens, programming, computer programming,

Geared for teens. Great for adults as well.
Pricing information found here

Code for Teens has been reviewed by 65 members of the crew of a variety of ages. Please click below to read what their comments are.

Code for teens can also be found on facebook.

Go to Sleep, Sheep

July 14, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Go To Sleep, Sheep is a board book wonderfully illustrated by Sydney Hanson. White. woolly sheep and mama needs them to go to bed. Will those little sheep listen? Will those little sheep come up with excuses? Will mama convince her littles that it’s time to go to bed? Join me in a bright and colourful book about bedtime routines.

Sydney Hanson does a wonderful job of bringing five little sheep and their mama to life. Beautiful white coats showcased against a farm background. Our littles one get to see butterflies, cattle, horses, bunnies and a typical red barn with barnyard.

I couldn’t figure out who the author was, the verse is in abcb rhyme for the most part, which makes it very easy to read. The repeated refrain Go to Sleep Sheep, helps give your young children confidence as they read along.

In many ways it’s a sweet little board book, with great images that provide talking points, each page has the young sheep coming up with new ways to stay up just a bit longer.

On just one page we have a short mention of God, a prayer thanking God for the day. It’s a good way to remind children to talk with God before they go to bed.

My thoughts

I have mixed feelings about this book. It’s not one I would read more than once to a child, there is just not enough meat of anything in this book. The story isn’t the most “YAY, let’s read it”. Might children enjoy it? Possibly. I would have more fun pointing out the glasses on one, the necktie on another and so forth. It would be a great book to talk about colours, caring for sheep, farm life and all those wonderful things. I’d be wanting to make up names for them and having fun with the youngsters under my care. Then I’d talk about how littles need to listen to mama and go to bed when they are told, even if they want a drink or to stay up or… God calls them to be more then what they want.

Go to Sleep, Sheep

Sydney Hanson (illustrator)
Tommy Nelson
Board book, 20 pages, preschool to kindergarten
Animals, sleep-time routines, faith-based
Reviewed for BookLookBloggers.

The Extraordinary Colors of Auden Dare

July 12, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

The Extraordinary Colors of Auden Dare is such an interesting book. The concept behind it was so fascinating to me. Auden Dare a child who cannot see color in a world with no rain. Just think about that concept for a while. Isn’t it an intriguing one? I am SO GLAD that Raincoast Books sent me this book to review.

I finished reading this book last night and told my lad this morning “you will like this book if you do not get hung up on the details”. He snorted! He’s heard me talking about this book a few times, mentioning how much I’ve been enjoying it but lack of details about some aspects of the world, made the world seem a bit unbelievable. I had to make a conscious decision to not let my question make me frustrated with the story. I explained to my lad that sometimes when you are reading a story, you have to make a choice to read for the story and not for the setting details. It’s a hard one for him eh? He’s very detail focused so if the facts don’t compute he can get lost in those details. I am hopeful he can read for the story as I really think he’ll enjoy it.

Letting the intrigue of not being able to see colour and what that would mean to a child who doesn’t know of anyone else so inflicted. That thought just grabbed hold of me eh? Can you imagine how lonely that might make a person feel? How different and isolating it could be? And then how important it would be then to have a friend? These factors play a vital role in how the story of Auden Dare unfolds.

Now imagine living in a world with no rain, imagine what that might possibly look like? Imagine what the global response might be. What might be good about living in a desert or living on an island? What would happen with the price of water or the items that require water for growth? Some of the details here are a touch sketchy, or not explained as well as I would like. BUT the person results of not having water at the ready where well defined and helped add good colour to the story line.

The story itself revolves around Middle Schoolers Auden and Vivi along with a robot named Paragon. I’m loathe to give away any spoilers, but I will tell you that Paragon is a rather unique robot and the middle schoolers have a number of interesting adventures with him. The sarcasm in this book will make my lad grin (I’m sure of it). 🙂 There is a mystery to be solved, can they solve it? (read the book to find out).

The Extraordinary Colors of Auden Dare
Zillah Bethell
Feiwel and Friends
Soft cover, 352 pages, 9-12 years
Fiction, Sci-Fiction, water, disability, Special needs
Reviewed for Raincoast books
Find it

Something Rotten

July 7, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Imagine, you are driving down the road, and like any other day you see a piece of roadkill lying there. But today is different than any other day, today you think.. oh.. I wonder, I wonder why that animal died, I wonder just how a snakes fangs work, so you pull off the road, pick up that dead snake and take it home with you. And thus a love of roadkill and all it can teach you is born. Learn of this fascination in Something Rotten, my latest review from Raincoast books.

Heather Montgomery walks us through the intriguing world that is roadkill, taking us through learning about parasites released Burmese pythons are giving to the native snake population (not a good thing), we learned about how red wolves might not actually be wolves but be a combination of coyote and wolf genetics, and how the Tasmanian devil is helping people.

Roadkill has never entered my radar of being a fascinating study until I read this book and then it was a like a whole new world opened up for me. The things to learn, the use that scientists can put them, and how they benefit the living, not only of their own species but in the lives of other living beings as well. It is simply amazing.

When you add up the amount of animals killed on the road it’s a staggering amount, then think of all the people involved in those kills and how some of them will be injured or lose their lives. Roadkill becomes a serious matter. It’s no small wonder that more and more animals bridges and underpasses are being built.

So what do you get?

Eleven chapters, 176 pages, text written with the middle schooler in mind, black and white images, and a fascinating look into the world of dead animals and scientists from around the world. She includes a section on steps people can take to save lives as well, which includes projects that people of all ages can take part in.

What did I think?

When I got the book I thought I would be bored out of my mind. 🙂 Like seriously ROAD KILL????? What in the world could be remotely interesting about roadkill? Then something good happened, I got hooked. Somewhere between learning how snakes fangs fold and coyotes I got hooked. I wanted to know what new and amazing thing she would discover next. Every time she turned a new corner I wanted to know more.

I was occasionally surprised like learning that throwing food out the window is a REALLY bad idea. It teaches animals to come to the road for food and while there, what do you think happens? Death to the animal and potential injury to other people. Do you want to be responsible for that? I don’t. I’ll save that apple core to toss at home eh? Won’t you? Another surprise was learning about a contagious cancer! Who would have thought!?!?!?! Totally surprised me.

Now this book is not for the faint of heart. If you are easily grossed out or can’t handle anatomical descriptions, it’s not the book for you. But if you have an inquiring mind and are fascinated by all things animal and don’t mind a bit of messiness (which by the by isn’t over the top but it is factual) this is an extremely interesting book. I’ll be adding it to the pile of books my lad will be reading, and guessing it won’t take him long to go through.

Something Rotten: A Fresh Look at Roadkill
Heather L. Montgomery
Kevin O’Malley (illustrator)
Bloomsbury Kids
176 pages, 10-14 years old, softcover, non-fiction
Roadkill, science, scientists, research, biology
Reviewed for Raincoast books.
Where to find Amazon

Reviews

Review: Northwest Treasures

Taking the Mystery Out of Geology Video

Dinosaurs and the Bible

How did we use it?

My Thoughts:

My Son’s Thoughts:

Survivor Diaries: Lost!

My Thoughts:

Every Job a Parable

Who is the Author and What is his purpose?

What do you get?

My thoughts:

Review: Code for Teens

What do you get?

How did we use it?

Our Thoughts:

Go to Sleep, Sheep

My thoughts

The Extraordinary Colors of Auden Dare

Something Rotten

So what do you get?

What did I think?

Amazon Affiliate information

Tinker Crate Affiliate

Reviews

Taking the Mystery Out of Geology Video

Dinosaurs and the Bible

How did we use it?

My Thoughts:

My Son’s Thoughts:

My Thoughts:

Who is the Author and What is his purpose?

What do you get?

My thoughts:

What do you get?

How did we use it?

Our Thoughts:

My thoughts

So what do you get?

What did I think?

Want to Stay Informed?

Thank you!

Footer

Amazon Affiliate information

Tinker Crate Affiliate